The Manning family has shared center stage for quite some time in the NFL. Both Peyton and Eli have experienced a healthy amount of success at the highest level, even if Eli doesn't always look happy about it. Their diametrically opposed personalities present a fun dynamic to discuss and debate: Peyton, the gregarious leader with an unmatched football IQ, pushed up against Eli, the somewhat aloof introvert with impressive savvy and arm strength.
Before Peyton's Super Bowl 50 victory, Eli provided some insight on how that dynamic played out when the Manning brothers, including eldest sibling Cooper, were wee lads.
"You know, they were pretty nice to me," Eli said. "I think the biggest thing they did, mostly Peyton because you know Cooper is older than him, [Cooper] would pick on [Peyton]. So I come along, I'm gonna take it. So [Peyton] would pin me down, you know, put his knees on my arms. He'd just start knocking on my chest until I named, at the time, the 28 teams in the NFL.
"So I got smart and eventually I could rip those off pretty quickly. We went college divisions, different things and then if he just wanted to make me cry he'd say, 'Name 10 brands of cigarettes.' I'm like, 'I'm 7 years old; I haven't started smoking cigarettes quite yet,' but that's when I'd just start yelling for Mom."
No-tell adoption
For the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl 50, they had to claw over other teams who wanted the title just as badly.
Before their defense supplied the Kryptonite to Cam Newton's Superman routine, it first had to disassemble the New England Patriots' offense. Based on comments he made in an interview with WCVB-TV in Boston, it seems like Patriots owner Robert Kraft is still licking his wounds.
"I happened to see Archie [Manning] there," Kraft not-so-offhandedly mentioned when asked about his trip to Super Bowl 50. "He has two sons who have won two Super Bowls [each]. But with all due respect, we have one son who has won four."
Did the Krafts adopt Tom Brady without telling anyone?
Cena returns
Professional wrestler John Cena is rehabbing a shoulder injury, but that isn't keeping the former WWE champion from making his presence felt on NASCAR's biggest stage.
According to Josh Richter of FoxSports.com, citing Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, Cena will be driving the pace car for this year's Daytona 500 on Feb. 21.
Chitwood III said Cena is a natural fit for the race because of his diverse profile, per Richter: "John Cena is one of the most iconic WWE Superstars in history, a great actor and philanthropist. We welcome him back to the World Center of Racing and our new motorsports stadium, this time to pace the field for The Great American Race."
Cena is no stranger to the Daytona 500, having served as the honorary starter for the 2012 race.
His consequences
Sometimes music speaks to us at the wrong times.
For Bill Walton, that time was midbroadcast Thursday, and his inspiration was a Cal student's glockenspiel.
With the final minutes of the Golden Bears' landslide 83-63 victory over Oregon ticking down, the often outlandish commentator took to playing the instrument.
Fellow broadcaster Dave Pasch seemed rather unamused by Walton's antics, but after labeling the contest as a blowout just moments before, he was left to endure the silliness.
Sports on 02/13/2016